Smoking article holder

ABSTRACT

A smoking article holder for cigars or cigarettes and the like includes an elongate curved tray member for placement of the smoking article therein, and a snap fastener socket member to enable the holder to be snapped to a corresponding snap fastener stud, such as on a golf bag or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to smoking and sports, and more particularly to asmoking article holder that is adapted for use in certain sports orsituations.

Some participants in certain sports, such as golf, for example, enjoysmoking while taking part in the sport. Cigar smoking is currentlypopular for golfers. However, when the golfer is ready to take his turnto hit the ball, it is necessary to take the cigar out of his mouth, andtemporarily set it aside, as keeping the cigar in the mouth whileswinging the golf club would likely interfere with the golfer's shot andmight also lead to the cigar being dropped or damaged. Some golfers havebeen known to set their cigars on the ground while taking the shot, butthis can be unsanitary to place the cigar portion that will be put backin the golfer's mouth onto the ground. Also, the hot, lit end of thecigar might damage the grass on the course.

To alleviate these concerns, various solutions have been devised. U.S.Pat. No. 3,001,529 shows a golf smoke tee, wherein a tray to hold acigarette or the like is provided with a vertical shank terminating in apoint, to allow the device to be inserted into the ground as a golf teewould be, providing a horizontal resting tray for the cigarette.However, the golfer may not always wish to have the cigarette placedclose to the ground.

Others have devised clip on holders, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,143where the holder clips over the top lip of a golf bag, or U.S. Pat. No.5,842,481, wherein a spring biased clip attaches to the golf bag, with aholding tray attached to the clip. These types of holders typicallyextend above the top of the golf bag, which places the cigar orcigarette in a position where it can be easy to knock off when removingor replacing clubs into the bag. Further, sometimes the golfer will setthe golf bag in an upright position, but other times the bag might beplaced horizontally on the ground. Some of the clip on type holderscannot accommodate the bag in a horizontal position, or would need to beremoved and re-clipped in a different manner in order to maintain theholding portion in a substantially horizontal configuration so as toadequately support the cigar or cigarette. Also, these types of holdersmay not be compatible for attachment to a golf cart, should the golferbe employing a cart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a smoking article holder is providedwith an engagement member adapted to snap onto a snap button, forremovable attachment to a variety of devices. A vertical shank withpointed end is also provided, to allow the option of inserting theholder into the ground, or into a golf tee holder on a pull cart or thelike, if desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved smoking article holder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedcigar holder for easy attachment to a golf club bag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improvedholder for holding a cigar, cigarette, or the like, wherein the holderis removably attachable to a standard size snap attachment.

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification.However, both the organization and method of operation, together withfurther advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection withaccompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to likeelements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the smoking article holder;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smoking article holder taken fromthe reverse side of the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the smoking article holder;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the smoking article holder; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the smoking article holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises asmoking article holder for use in golfing. Referring to FIG. 1, aperspective view of the smoking article holder 10, an elongate curvedconcave up tray portion 12 with open ends is provided, adapted toreceive therein a cigar 14 or cigarette (for example), illustrated inphantom (FIG. 5). The holder is mounted (suitably formed as a unitarybody in the preferred embodiment) to an elongate shaft portion 16,positioned substantially centrally of the tray 12, attached to theconvex face of the tray. Plural members 18 may be provided to strengthenthe area of attachment between the shaft and the tray. The end of theshaft distal from the tray is suitably provided with a pointed portion20, to enable easier insertion of the shaft into the ground.

On one side face of the tray portion, a snap extension member 22 extendsoutwardly away from the face of the tray, suitably configured as ahollow cylinder portion. The diameter 24 of the opening is suitablychosen to be a standard press snap fastener “button” size, for example,to engagingly fit a 10.5 mm, 11 mm, 12.5 mm, 13.5 mm or 14 mm press snapfastener stud portion within the opening, these being typical sizes inuse. Other sizes are accommodated by modification of the diameter 24 ofthe socket 22, which may be accomplished in manufacture or by inclusionof a diameter reducing insert for making the inner diameter 24 smallerto accommodate a smaller size stud. The extension member 22 therebyfunctions as a socket portion 22 of a press snap fastener.

The holder 10 is suitably made of an injection molded plastic in thepreferred embodiment.

FIG. 4, a side view of the holder, illustrates that text or graphics 26may be suitable placed on the face of the holder on the side opposed the22. The text or graphics may comprise advertising or promotionalmaterial, making the holder 10 suitable for use as a marketing orpromotional item.

FIG. 5, an end view of the holder 10, illustrates the interface with apress snap fastener stud portion 28, which in the preferred embodimentcomprises a snap faster stud on a golf bag or golf cart. Golf bags andsome golf carts typically include snap press fasteners for attachingcovers or other items thereto. Golf bags in particular will have one ormore such fastener studs positioned in various locations on the outsideof the bag. The holder portion 22 suitably snaps onto the fastener stud28, to removably mount the holder to the fastener stud. Theinterrelation of the holder and stud is such that the holder may berotated easily, so that no matter the orientation of the golf bag, theholder can be easily positioned to maintain the cigar 14 in asubstantially horizontal orientation. Thus, if the bag is positionedsubstantially vertically, the holder may be positioned such that thelongitudinal axis of the tray portion is at approximately 90 degrees tothe longitudinal axis of the golf bag. If the bag is position at anangle to the ground (some bags include legs for setting at an angle, orare mounted at an angle on a wheeled carrier), the holder can be rotatedto still be parallel to the ground. Similarly, if the bag is positionedwith its longitudinal axis parallel to the ground, the holder can berotated such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the bag and thusto the ground, ensuring the cigar or cigarette will rest in the holder.

The inclusion of the shaft 16 with pointed end 20 enables the device toalso be used by pressing it into the ground, if desired. Thus, in thecase where the golf bag is not nearby or not being used or if for somereason a snap fastener stud is not available, the holder can still beemployed to hold the smoking article.

A further advantage of the shaft and pointed end, which correspond tothe configuration of a golf tee, is that the smoking article holder canbe inserted into a golf tee holder such as would be present on a pullcart, for example. Thus, the user has the option of attaching to a presssnap stud or securing in a tee holder.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention, an improved holder forsmoking articles, such as cigars or cigarettes, is provided that can beeasily attached to a snap fastener stud and is rotatable to maintain theholder substantially horizontal so that the smoking article will rest inthe holder tray. A golf-tee-like pointed shaft portion may also bemounted to the holder, to enable the holder to be placed in the groundwhen not attached to a snap fastener stud, or to enable insertion into atee holder as an alternative to placement on a press snap stud.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that manychanges and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are thereforeintended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A smoker's article holder, comprising: a support portion forreceiving a smoker's article therein; and a press snap fastener socketportion associated with said support portion for enabling removableattachment of said support portion to a press snap fastener stud.
 2. Thesmoker's article holder according to claim 1, wherein said supportportion comprises a tray member.
 3. The smoker's article holderaccording to claim 2, wherein said tray portion is curved.
 4. Thesmoker's article holder according to claim 1, wherein said supportportion receives the smoker's article along an inner face portionthereof and wherein said press snap fastener socket portion is formed onan outer face of said support portion.
 5. The smoker's article holderaccording to claim 1, further comprising a shaft member in associationwith said support portion for enabling insertion of said shaft memberinto the ground.
 6. A cigar holder, comprising a cigar receiving trayfor receiving and supporting a cigar; and a press snap fastener socketmember attached to said cigar receiving tray, for receiving a press snapfastener stud in removable engagement for mounting said cigar holder toa support.
 7. The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein saidsupport comprises a golf club bag.
 8. The cigar holder according toclaim 6, wherein said support comprises a golf cart.
 9. The cigar holderaccording to claim 6, further comprising an elongate shaft membermounted in association with said cigar receiving tray support portionfor enabling insertion of said shaft member into the ground.
 10. Thecigar holder according to claim 9, wherein said shaft member comprises apointed end member for easier insertion into the ground.
 11. The cigarholder according to claim 6, wherein said cigar receiving tray furthercomprises a portion adapted for placing text or graphics thereon. 12.The cigar holder according to claim 6, wherein said tray comprises aplastic.
 13. A method of providing a smoking article holder, comprising:providing a cradle member for receiving a smoking article therein in asupporting orientation that supports the smoking article substantiallyalong an elongate axis thereof; and providing a press snap fastenermember in relation to said cradle member for enabling attachment of saidsmoking article holder to a corresponding snap fastener member onanother object.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said snapfastener member comprises a snap fastener socket.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein said another object comprise a golf bag.16. The method according to claim 13, wherein said press snap fastenermember comprises a snap fastener socket and said corresponding snapfastener member comprises a press snap fastener stud.